20-Feb-2014 -- 18th Annual International Confluence Day: Today marked the anniversary of Alex Jarrett’s initial confluence visit on 2/20/96, and as has become my tradition over the last eleven years, I once again traveled to a different United State to observe the occasion at a whole integer latitude – longitude crossing. This year’s target was dictated by my wife’s scheduled meeting this evening in (relatively) nearby Kalamazoo, Michigan. Although much of the area was still covered with snow unmelted since falling in January, the roads were clear, and the only precipitation falling today was of the liquid variety.

We left Interstate 69 at the Walmart Distribution Center (Exit 16) just north of Coldwater, Michigan. We headed west until turning north on Marshall Road (Old U.S. Highway 27). We stopped at the house on the southeast corner of the junction of Marshall and Bidwell Roads, where the lady of the house was very familiar with both the location of her imaginary point and similar requests by previous visitors; and gracious in allowing us access to her yard, although warning us (correctly) it would be very slippery today.

I stepped carefully and methodically towards the spot, hoping to minimize the length of the confluence dance, considering the foot-deep snow. Satellite reception did not seem to provide great GPS accuracy today, but all zeroes appeared on the screen within two minutes. Michigan marks the 23rd state I have visited on International Confluence Day, and after taking the required photos, we quickly retreated to the warm car to celebrate our success in the middle of a very harsh winter season at 42N 85W.